PHJ release by: Matt Arias
One of the highlights each year at the APHA World Show is the Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes, an elite slate of Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes open exclusively to Breeders’ Trust-enrolled horses. With the World Show moving to the summer this year, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was modified to 3-year-old maiden horse Open classes–a revision that was announced in the fall of 2020. The program was recently analyzed for the 2022 APHA World Show and the following changes have been made to allow more 3-year-olds to be eligible for the $50,000+ purse.
The Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes will be open to all Breeders’ Trust 3-year-olds. The Open 3-year-old classes will not be exclusively for maiden horses in 2022; however, a portion of the purse will be allocated to maiden eligible horses.
To be eligible for the 2022 classes, 2-year-old horses must be enrolled by November 15, 2021, for a $1,500 enrollment fee. Enrollments postmarked November 16, 2021, through December 31, 2021, can still enroll but at the late enrollment fee pricing. No further enrollments to the 2022 Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes program will be accepted after December 31, 2021. Once enrolled, that horse would be eligible for both the Open 3-year-old classes as well as the Non-Pro 3-year-old classes.
Entry payments for the 2022 Open and Non-Pro classes will be split into two payments. The Open classes’ initial entry payment is $725 (includes $225 administrative fee), due April 1, 2022; the second entry payment of $500 is due June 1, 2022. The Open Pleasure Stakes Classes will have a Limited Rider division for exhibitors who meet the Limited Rider criteria, and a Maiden Horse division as well. Please see the 2022 Conditions Information for full details. For the Non-Pro classes, the initial entry payment of $400 is due April 1, 2022, and the second entry payment of $400 is due June 1, 2022.
“Since the announcement last fall, we have received a lot of feedback on the program from owners, trainers, and breeders,” said Director of Advertising and Incentive Programs Matt Arias. “We feel by opening the Open classes at the 2022 APHA World Show to all Breeders’ Trust 3-year-olds, we will see the best of the best vie for this large purse while still having some incentives for maiden horses and limited exhibitors.”
With this announcement we understand that some owners and trainers may want their 2-year-old to show at the 2021 APHA World Show. There is still time to enter before the pre-entry deadline for the World Championship and Sweepstakes classes! Is your horse eligible for the Gold division of the Breeders’ Futurity? Good news! APHA is extending the initial entry payment for the 2-year-old classes only until May 15. That means you have until May 15 to pay your initial payment into the Gold 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure or Gold 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle without any late fees. If you have any questions, please email Matt Arias, Director of Advertising and Incentive Programs- marias@apha.com.
For full details and conditions on the Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes program, along with enrollment forms, please visit apha.com/worldshow/breeders-trust-pleasure-stakes/.